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Jumps Chief Slams RV For "Appalling Mismanagement"

Friday, 10th December 2010

The Australian Jumping Racing Association "has renewed its attack on Racing Victoria over what it claims is appalling mismanagement of its section of the industry," reported The Herald-Sun. AJRA president Rodney Rae "took aim during yesterday's RV annual general meeting at Caulfield racecourse". Rae said jumps racing prize-money had been reduced by 50% & participation levels "decimated" by 70% during Michael Duffy's term as RV chairman. He asked Duffy if RV was prepared to give jumps racing the "same unequivocal" support as Victoria's new Baillieu Government in a bid to "overcome the appalling mismanagement it has been subjected to over the past 3 years". Duffy said RV's position on jumps racing "remained unchanged": hurdle racing would receive a 3-year extension provided it met key performance indicators, while steeplechase racing had a 1-year renewal pending it satisfying nominated Key Performance Indicators. Duffy noted: "Beyond that, I'm not prepared to go any further. That's the position of the board at the moment & that's where it will remain until it's changed." New Racing Minister Denis Napthine (a staunch jumps supporter) has promised to inject an additional $2 million into jumps prize-money, as well as establishing an international jumps racing series. Rae also attacked RV for "trying to change the shareholder voting structure" & asked for a commitment "not to approach Napthine about the issue", which he termed "highly inappropriate". Duffy replied "no undertaking would be given to Rae about anything".